Page 26 of Drawn into Oblivion

She looked at him. “What are you saying?”

“He fears Shumei,” he said. “The Damned One is afraid, and he has never feared an empress before. That gives me hope.”

“Which means he may try again,” she inferred.

“True. Unfortunately, that is very true.”

Chapter Nine

After the abrupt and terrible end to the empress’s joining day, duty called for both Mai and Rosuke. Mai changed out of her extravagant dress and washed off her face paint, though the lip stain lingered. She then ate a small repast and joined Kyoko for a house meeting, followed by a writing lesson with several dozen house members.

She didn’t hear word of Oka until after her bath that evening. One of the empress’s guards was waiting next to Mai’s room, note in hand. According to it, Oka had slept until sundown and was still weak and shaken up, but he was otherwise in good health. Shumei also gave her profuse thanks.

In the days that followed, hardly an hour went by without someone approaching her to express how amazed they’d been by her bravery. But in the midst of her struggle, while she’d been wrestling poor Oka, she hadn’t felt brave at all. Several women told her how much they wanted to be like her, but she doubted any of them really wanted to face a demon.

And despite her reputation, men also approached her to offer praise, which was hard enough on her nerves, but then they asked to court her as well, and she more often than not bluntly told them some variation of “no,” “pick someone else,” or “go away.” She felt it best not to give any indication, even unintentional, that she desired to accept a suitor.

Except one, perhaps. The man who invaded her thoughts at all hours of the day. She recalled their sparring match whenever she had combat drills with the high general. She remembered the feel of his hands whenever she bathed, or even whenever her mind strayed for a moment, and the memory always made her blush and her heart quicken. She thought she heard his voice whispering in her ear whenever she overheard someone say his name, and her mind would pull away from her current conversation just for a chance to hear what they were saying about him.

Divine One have mercy, she was becoming obsessed. She had hoped to see Rosuke again as soon as possible, but three days had passed without the briefest glimpse of him, and the day to draw and invoke the circle the Divine One had granted her arrived. Though it would shame her to admit it out loud, she woke more excited about seeing him than casting the spell, for he had promised to be there.

She dressed quickly even though she had woken well before dawn, and when she left her room, she found two large men outside her door with swords on their hips—a couple of the empress’s guards, based on their uniforms, but still an unnerving start to her day.

“Elder Mai,” the one on the right said. “Good morning to you.” Both men bowed low. The guard gestured elegantly as he introduced himself and his partner. “My name is Akira, and this is Seijiro. We’re here to escort you to the rooftop.”

“Do you have to stand so close?” she snapped, unable to help herself. Being in a room full of people was one thing. Two muscular guards a step away from her bedroom, with no one else around, was another.

The men hastily stepped back. “The empress and the high general are on their way even now,” Seijiro said, “and all the preparations have been made. I was told we should proceed with haste to ensure the magic circle is invoked before most people have stirred from their beds.” He swept his hand toward the stairs at the end of the hall.

“That’s correct,” a third voice said. Face lighting up, Mai looked to the other end of the hall and saw Rosuke strolling toward them.

“Commander,” Akira said. He and Seijiro bowed, and Rosuke winked at her while they weren’t looking. And damn it, it made her heart skip.

“You may proceed to the roof. I’d be honored to escort Elder Mai,” Rosuke said, stopping to bow his head at her.

“Understood,” Seijiro replied. He and Akira turned and walked ahead.

“I’m so happy you could come,” she confided, closing her door behind her. Then she leaned back on it, not quite ready to go upstairs yet. Rosuke stepped close enough for her to feel his body heat, and she breathed deeper as she spread her hands across his chest. He braced one arm above her. His eyes looked tired.

“I wouldn’t miss this for anything,” he said. He laid his other hand on her waist and stroked her slowly, sweeping his hand down her back, around the curve of her bottom, and over her hip. Sighing, she writhed under his touch.

“You seem weary,” she noted.

He stroked her again while nuzzling her cheek and brushing his lips near her mouth. She closed her eyes in abandon. “I’m fine. Do not worry over me.”

In truth, Rosuke had spent all night preparing a lecture for another to give in his stead so he could have the morning free. Only moments ago, he had knocked on Captain Yuushi’s bedroom door to hand over his notes, and had been amused to see someone else lazily shifting under the captain’s bedcovers.

“Kiss me,” Mai begged.

Rosuke couldn’t help a small moan. She did look particularly luscious that morning. Her lip stain from the joining ceremony was still fading, her loosely braided hair looked soft in the predawn light, and her skin glowed from a good night’s sleep. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her.

“We haven’t much time. Even now, the sun is nearing the horizon.”

“Only for a moment, Rosuke. Plea—”

He dipped his head and claimed her mouth. Hearing his name on her lips drove him crazy. She had such a sexy, husky voice—both commanding and shy at the same time, a maddening contrast that fascinated him.

He held her in place with his hand on her jaw as he explored the fullness of her lips. He didn’t intend to deepen their kiss, but then she made a small, happy sound and curled her fingers against his chest, so he had to keep going—had to suck her lower lip into his mouth and test its softness. That made her gasp, so he had to pull her closer, and when he slid his tongue into her mouth, she eagerly opened up.